Collapsible shoehorn

ABSTRACT

A collapsible shoehorn sometimes called a slipper spoon has a transversely curved lower portion having upturned side edges and a pair of ears bent inwardly at the upper edge thereof. A second arcuate portion is longitudinally slidably positioned under the ears and has tapering side edges so as to wedge against the ears as the second portion is withdrawn from the lower portion to lengthen the shoehorn. The lower portion has a detent socket formed therein and the upper portion has a detent dome which cooperates with the detent socket to releaseably secure the upper portion in collapsed position within the lower portion. A handle flange extends perpendicularly of the upper edge of the upper portion for moving the upper portion in and out of collapsed position within the lower portion and for handling the shoehorn in use.

United States Patent [191 Oldfield COLLAPSIBLE SHOEHORN [76] Inventor: Clarence E. Oldfield, 1726 Colorado St., Manhattan, Kans. 66502 221 Filed: Jan. 31, 1973 21 Appl.No.:328,275

[52] US. Cl. 223/118 [51] Int. Cl. A47j 51/03 [58] Field of Search 223/117, 118

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,668 11/1882 Brown 223/118 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 743,067 1/1933 France 223/118 Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich A 51 mg, Agent, pr Firm- Victor J. Evans Co Jan. 29, 1974 7] ABSTRACT A collapsible shoehom sometimes called a slipper spoon has a transversely curved lower portion having upturned side edges and a pair of ears bent inwardly at the upper edge thereof. A second arcuate portion is longitudinally slidably positioned under the ears and has tapering side edges so as to wedge against the ears as the second portion is withdrawn from the lower portion'to lengthen the shoehom. The lower portion has a detent socket formed therein and the upper portion has a detent dome which cooperates with the detent socket to releaseably secure the upper portion in collapsed position within the lower portion. A handle flange extends perpendicularly of the upper edge of the upper portion for moving the upper portion in and out of collapsed position within the lower portion and for handling the shoehom in use.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE SHOEHORN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the upper piece in and out of collapsed position withrespect to the lower piece.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shoehom which can be extended for use and collapsed for storage.

Other objects and advantages will become apparen in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the invention shown in extended use position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1; 4

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; i 1

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the shoehom collapsed; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the collapsed shoehom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generallya shoehom or slipper spoon constructed 'in accordance with the invention.

The shoehom 10 includes a transversely arcuate lower portion 11 having an arcuate lower edge 12. A pair of opposed side edges l3, 14 are tapered inwardly upwardly from the arcuate lower edge 12 terminating in an upper edge 15.

An ear 16 is integrally formed with the portion 11 along the side edge 13 adjacent the edge 15. A second car 17 is formed integrally with the portion 11 along the side edge 14 adjacent the edge 15. The ears l6, 17 are bent inwardly to overlie the portion 11 as can be clearly seen in FIG. 4.

A detent socket 18 is formed in the lower portion l1 the upper portion 19 andextends perpendicularly from the upper edge 23 thereof.

A detent dome 25 is formed in the upper portion 19 adjacent the flange 24. The dome 25 is adapted to cooperate with the socket 18 with the upper and lower portions in their collapsed position as is clearly seen in FIG. 6 in order to releaseably secure the upper portion 19 in its collapsed position with relation to the lower 1 portion 11.

In the use and operation of the invention the shoehom 10 is normally collapsed in the position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 with the detent dome 25 positioned in the detent socket 18. The cars 16, 17 overlying the upper portion 19 maintain it in engagement with the lower portion 11. When it is desired to use the shoehorn 10 the edges 13, 14 of the lower portion 11 are grasped in one hand and the handle 24 is grasped in the other hand so as to slide the upper portion 19 upwardly with respect to the lower portion 1 1 until the side edges 21, 22 bind against the ears 16, 17 to releaseably secure the portion 19 in its extended position with relation to the portion 11. The shoehorn 10 is then used in the conventional manner following which it is collapsed by pressing against the handle 24 and the lower edge 12 of the portion 11 so as to move the portion 19 in a telescoping direction with respect to the portion 11 until the detent dome 25 engages in the detent socket 18 whereupon the shoehom 10'is stored in the pocket or other position until again needed. Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention,

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible shoehom comprising a lower portion transversely curved and having upwardly tapering side edges, a transversely curved upper portion engaged against said lower portion, an angularly extending handle flange integrally formed on said upper portion along the upper edge thereof, a pair of cars integrally formed on the upper edge of said lower portion and bentto overlie said upper portion for normally maintaining said lower portion and said upper portion in sliding contact, a detent socket formed on said lower portion, a detent dome formed on said upper portion for engagement in said detent socket with said upper portion collapsed into said lower portion for releasably locking said upper portion and said lower portion together in overlapping collapsed position, and upwardly tapering side edges on said upper portion for releasably locking against said ears for securing said upper portion to said lower portion upon complete extension of said upper portion with respect to said lower portion. 

1. A collapsible shoehorn comprising a lower portion transversely curved and having upwardly tapering side edges, a transversely curved upper portion engaged against said lower portion, an angularly extending handle flange integrally formed on said upper portion along the upper edge thereof, a pair of ears integrally formed on the upper edge of said lower portion and bent to overlie said upper portion for normally maintaining said lower portion and said upper portion in sliding contact, a detent socket formed on said lower portion, a detent dome formed on said upper portion for engagement in said detent socket with said upper portion collapsed into said lower portion for releasably locking said upper portion and said lower portion together in overlapping collapsed position, and upwardly tapering side edges on said upper portion for releasably locking against said ears for securing said upper portion to said lower portion upon complete extension of said upper portion with respect to said lower portion. 